Parallel ruling apparatus for layout or register tables



March 20, 1962 R. s. S'HELLY 3,025,604

PARALLEL RULING lAPPARATUS FOR LAYOUT OR REGISTER TABLES Filed Deo.. 7, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 W10/WWW;

March 20, 1962 R. s. SHELLY PARALLEL RULING APPARATUS FOR LAYOUT OR REGISTER TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

arent 3,525,604 Patented Mar'. 2%, 1952 ice Utah

nnen nee. 7, 1954, ser. No. 473,644 13 Claims. (Cl. 33 31) This invention relates to parallel ruling apparatus particularly adapted for use with layout or register tables although not necessarily so restricted.

The principal object of the invention is to provide precision means, such as a dividing engine, for accurately spacing a plurality of lines or other items apart from one another'. Such lines may be drawn, scored or ruled on paper, photographic negatives, sheet metal or on any suitable surface.

Other objects are to provide a `precision mechanism that is simple, convenient and relatively inexpensive.

Features of the invention are the ease and rapidity with which a user is enabled to adjust the mechanism to dif ferent units of measurement for use with modern ybusiness machines such as typewriters, bookkeeping machines, and so on. An example of its use is the ruling of business forms or record sheets wherein the spacing between consecutive lines is based on different units of measurement, for example, in common or decimal fractions, including odd fractions such as are used in so-called printers type measure. A dominating factor is to make it possible to instantly and selectively make use of different spacings in order to have these agree with the numerical values used in various business machines, e.g. typewriters or bookkeeping machines, where definite spacings between lines and definite spacings between characters in a line are well established and are in common use.

Since many printed business forms are afterwards filled in on typewriters, it is necessary that the difference between typography measurements and typewriter measurements be provided for without conflict.

The apparatus of the invention may be adapted to any system of linear measurement. In the present instance the common English system of linear measure, involving feet and inches as units of measurement, is exemplified. The apparatus is applicable to many different industrial and scientiiic purposes in addition to the ruling of business forms, for example, the ruling of cross-section sheets and -mathematic graph sheets. In the present instance the apparatus is particularly arranged for producing ruled business forms, which `generally involve line spacings conforming to those of a typewriter or those used by printers. Accordingly it is indexed `for %4, 1/72 and 1/100 of an inch, the last being on a decimal basis.

The apparatus is mounted on a table surface on which a sheet of paper or other suitable material is mounted. it comprises principally a straightedge which is movable up and down the table, a traveling dividing head associated with the straightedge, and an indexing mechanism.

The dividing head with its straightedge is arranged to be moved in successive increments determined in extent by any particular setting of the indexing mechanism, the latter being manipulated manually bythe operator. Provision is made for moving in common, as a self-contained assembly, all three of the principal components relative to the table surface, so that proper alignment of the straightedge with the work can be made for any given setting of the indexing mechanism. For the purpose of insuring precision indefinitely, interacting parts throughout the entire system are resiliently pressed into continuing close interengagement, regardless of wear and without operative clearance, as in the usual provision for backlash yfor intermeshing gears.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an excellent embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 1 represents a top plan, a portion being broken away for convenience;

FIG. 2, an enlargement of fragmentary portions of FIG. l;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary side elevation viewed from the line 3 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 in FIGS. 2 and 5, background portions being in elevation;

FIG. 5, a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6, a horizontal section taken on the line 6 6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7, a vertical section taken on the line 7 7 in FIGS. 3 and 4, fragmentary in character and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7A, the fragmentary portion enclosed by the loop 7A, FIG. 7, and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 8, a fragmentary elevation viewed from the line 8 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9, a horizontal section taken on the line 9 9 in FIGS. 8, l2 and 15;

FIG. 10, a horizontal section taken on the line 1(3 10 in FIG. 8 as seen from the bottom and reflected from a mirror plane;

IFIG. 11, an enlargement of fragmentary portions of FIG. 9, largely in. horizontal section below plate 68;

FIG. 12, a vertical transverse section taken on the line M IZ in FIG. 10; also in FIGS. 2 and 9;

FIG. 13, a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 13 13 in FIG. l0; also in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14, a horizontal section taken on the line M id in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15, a vertical section taken on the line 15 i5 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 16, a view in perspective, showing the invention in use by an operator; and

FIG. 17, an enlargement of the portion enclosed by the loop 17 in FIG. 10, the section plane thereof being extended to include a portion of the threads of the screw 25.

Referring to the drawings, the assembly of a layout and register table equipped with the apparatus of the invention is indicated in FIG. 16.

The table may consist of a box 2li having the working surface 2l. Adapted to travel up and down the working surface is a traversing straightedge 22 having the dividing head 23. The actuating mechanism for the straightedge 22 includes the dividing head 23, an indexing head 24, and a motion transmission mechanism consisting in this instance chiey of a lead screw 25. The straightedge advantageously is ymounted directly on the dividing head` so that the two move up and down the surface 21 as a unit. The indexing head is normally xed in position, and constitutes a remote control for the dividing head. The indexing head may be arranged for manual actuation by means of an indexed handwheel 26.

Registry of the straightedge with the work sheet 21 1 applied to the working surface is obtained in two steps, rst approximately, and then precisely. Structurally, this involves a compound guideway means 27, FIGS. l, 2 and 3, and includes a carriage, see particularly FIG. 12, consisting in this instance of an elongate angular member itt that extends alongside of and has limited longitudinal movement with respect to the working surface 21.. The carriage 28 rests on a shelf surface 21a recessed below the surface 21 and moves between two fixed guides 28a and 28b. These parts are advantageously disposed in a longitudinal, angular niche or recess 29, FIG. 12, alongside the table 20. Included, further, is a track rail 3d, fixed with respectto the carriage 23 as by means of the aforementioned indexing 3 head 24 and an opposite end support 57, FIGS. 1 and 2.

Approximate registry is obtained by positioning the straightedge on the work sheet as hereinafter described, while precise registry is obtained by means of a mechanism operative between the xed guide 28a, FIGS. 3 and 6, and the indexing head 24. This mechanism has a block 33 xed to the near end of the guide 28a. Threaded in the block 33 and journaled in the indexing head 24 is an adjusting stem 34 arranged for manual manipulation by means of a knurled knob 35. On the stem 34 is a compression spring 37 that reacts between parts 24 and 33 to constitute a spring-loaded connection between those parts. By turning the knob 35 in one direction, the carriage 28 is moved in a given direction with respect to the working surface 21. By turning the knob in the opposite direction, the carriage is moved counter to the given direction because of, the reaction of the spring 37.

It is to be observed that the indexing head 24, track rail 30, dividing head 23 with the straightedge 22, and the motivating lead screw 25, between the indexing head 24 and dividing head 23, constitute an independent unit assembly. It is to be further observed that this independent unit assembly rides on and moves with the carriagc 28 for the purpose of effecting the small but important nal precise adjustment between the dividing head and the working surface.

The dividing head 23 is arranged for engagement with or disengagement from the lead screw 25, FIGS. 10, 12 to 14. This is effected by means of clutch means comprising a two-part nut 3S, composed of the halves 38a and 3817, which cooperate to close upon the screw 25 in engaging relation, and again to open for releasing the screw 25. In each half of the two-part nut 38 is fixed a pin 75, FIGS. 9, 12, and 13, the two pins having protruding portions which work in respective cam slots 70, formed in a reciprocable engaging plate 68. These slots 70, in the present case, see particularly FIG. 9, converge from one end of the plate 68 to the other end there-of, and, by engagement of their inner sides with the respective pins 75, cause the jaws to mutually open with respect to the lead screw 25. Thus, it is seen that the engaging plate 68 moves independently of the mounting block 67.

In order to keep the movement of the engaging plate in proper registry with the block, two registry pins 69,

FIG. 9, are provided to travel in slots 43 formed in the block. The engaging plate is provided with a protruding ear 71, which is arranged to move in and along a slot 74 in the front wall of the body 77. From the ear 71 extends a stem 73 on which, in turn, is mounted, for instance by threading, a knob 72, the purpose of the knob being to provide for manual moving of the engaging plate back and forth.

In the illustrated back position of the parts shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the nut 38 is closed on the screw 25 by the action of springs 39, it being noted that there is clean ance between the pins and inner sides of the respective cam slots so springs 39 can act on the nut when plate 68 is in the illustrated back portion. When lthe plate 68 is moved forwardly, the two halves 38a and 38b of the nut are caused to separate against the tension of springs 39 by action of the inner sides of the cam slots on the pins 75. It happens that if the slots 70 were to be inclined throughout their length, there would be a tendency for the pins to return along the cam surfaces of the slots and thereby inadvertently to cause the respective half-nuts to come into contact with the screw threads. To obviate this, the end yportions of the slo-ts 7G are advantageously made substantially parallel to the line of motion of the plate 68, as indicated at 70-1 in FIG. 9, with the result that the jaws are held virtually stationary in such forward position of the plate 68, against any tendency to inadvcrtently follow the cam surfaces of the slots.

The block 67 is transversely recessed at 76, FIGS. 10,

4 12, and 14, so as to opposingly and slidably accommodate the two jaws and their respective springs.

While the threads of the lead screw 25 may be of various kinds, the threads known as the Acme, but in a modified form, are especially valuable in connection with the invention because of the fact that such threads are of truncated t-formation. A primary purpose is to overcome the tendency to produce backlash between the lead screw 25 and each of the half nuts 38ay and 33]).

A modified Acme thread is sho-wn in FIG. 17. Here it is to be noted that the Acme threads have more than the usual bottom clearance, indicated at 85, but no flank clearance, so that under pressure of the springs 39, which, it should be noted are transversely biased with respect to the screw 25, the threads of the two halves or jaws of the nut closely interlock with the threads of the screw, thus insuring substantially perfect flank contacts despite wear. Axially of the screw any tendency to accumulate backlash between the threads of the screw and the threads of the half nuts is taken up by means of an equalizing plate 87 under the bias of springs S6, FIGS. l0 and 13.

The dividing head 23 is arranged to slide along the track rail 30 and is composed chieily of the two aforementioned parts, the body 77 and the block 67, FIG. 12. Fixed partially in the body and partially in the block are pairs of mutually spaced pins 79 and pins 3G, FIG. 9. The pins 79 are spaced longitudinally apart from each other on the outer side of the track rail 30, while the pins 80 are spaced longitudinally apart from each other on the inner side of the track rail 3). The two sets of pins 79 and 8G are spaced apart from each other laterally so as to straddle the track rail 30. Concentrically mounted on the pins 79 are needle bearings or roller means 81 and eccentrically mounted on the pins 80 are other needle bearings or roller means 82. The purpose of the eccentric mounting is to take up any slack that might develop by reason or" wear, and so to equalize the pressure between the pair of needle bearings S1 and the pair of needle bearings `S2 along the opposite side faces of the rail 30. This equalized bearing pressure is automatically maintained by means of a tension spring 33, which exerts its pull between two fastenings 84' at suitable points on the eccentrics. In FIG. 11, the resultant equalizing action may be clearly visualized.

In connection with the foregoing description of the dividing head, it may be stated that the travel of the dividing head along the track rail 30 is determined by the graduated scales 31, FIG. 2. These scales in the present instance are three in number and appear advantageously on the upper face of the track rail. The scales 31 are divided to correspond to scales appearing on the aforementioned indexed handwheel 26. The nature of the graduations will hereinafter be more fully alluded to.

Reverting to the indexing head, the handwheel 26 carries detent mechanism comprising a ball stop 40, FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, which may consist of a tubular shell 41E-1, FIG. 7A, and a ball or plug plunger' 40-2 depressibly held in the shell under bias of a compression spring itl- 3, for selective engagement accompanied by a clicking sound in various cup-like depressions 45, 46 and 47, FIG. 7A, the manner and purpose of such selective engagement being presently explained. The depressions 45, 46 and 47, respectively, arranged to form a plurality of detent tracks, are formed in a clicker disk or indexing plate 64, which in this instance is fast in the gearbox 36, FIGS. 4 and 5.

The stop 40 is fast in an index shifting lever 41, FIG. 4, the latter being fixedly centered at shift lever pivot 42. In an arm 43 of the index shifting lever 41 is a shift lever lock comprising a threaded stem 44-1, FIG. l, fast in such arm 43 and extending through handwheel 26 by way of a concentric, abutment sleeve 44-2- A thumb nut 44 treaded on the stem at the opposite or exposed side of handwheel 26 serves to clamp lever 41 tightly to handwheel 26.

The index shifting lever it is pivoted at 42, FIG. 4, in the indexed handwheel 26, the latter being mounted on a drive gear shaft 49, FIG. 5 The shaft 49 is journaled at Sti in a wall of the gearbox 36 and at 51 in the indexing plate 64. Fixed on the shaft 49 is a beveled gear 52, which meshes with a mating beveled pinion 53. The pinion 53 is fixed with reference to the lead screw by means of a stem portion 54, which is journaled at S5 in a wall of the gearbox 36. The far end of the lead screw is journaled in end support 57, which is fixed to the cnd of carriage 28, see FiG. 12, for movement therewith during the precise adjustment mentioned hereinbefore. Adjacent the journal is a compression spring 54a, which reacts between the journal and the end shoulder of the stem 54 to effect spring loading and avoid backlash between thc journal and the stern.

A set screw 51a secures handwheel 26 to shaft 49, so that rotation of such handwheel serves to rotate lead screw 54.

FFhe indexing handwheel 26 carries a circular flange 5S, FiGS. l and 5, the outside surface of which is indexed in the form of graduated scales that extend circumferentially and constitute part of the indexing system presently to be explained. These scales are arranged axiaily side by side, and are adapted to come into visual registry with the indicator point 59, FIG. 2, of an adjustable index slide titl, disposed at a convenient place, such as on the top surface of the gearbox 36. The slide is slotted at 6l for being iixedly set by means of an index pointer dumping screw 62., the latter being threaded in the upper wall of the gearbox. The slide is guided in a groove 63.

The indexing system includes a plurality, in this instance three, of graduated scales arranged side by side. The individual scales `may be of innite variety depending upon the particular use to which the device of the invention is being put.

in the present instance, the apparatus of the invention is designed speciiicaily for producing various business, professional, or scientific sheets embracing numerous different purposes, a typical use being business inventory forms.

The graduated track rail 3i), in the present instance, is adapted to the English system of linear measurement, the track being, for example, 24 inches long. In the present instance there are three scales arranged side by side, these being designated respectively 14,4, 1/72 and 1/100. The irn scale is characterized by divisions represented by common fractions on the basis of 64 divisions to the inch. The 1/'72 scale is characterized by having each inch divided into 72 parts, forming the basis of the usual printers point system. The /lfro scale is characterized by being arranged on a decimal basis of l0() divisions to the inch. The circular scales mari/ted on the ange 53 of the indexed hand wheei 26 correspond to the graduated scales 31 on the track rail 3G. Thus, the three scales on the circular tiange 5S are here divided on the basis of unit divisions 1/(14, %/,g and V100. The indexed handwheel 26 is arranged for rotation manually by means or" spinner knobs 65, the knobs in the present instance being spaced apart from one another l2() degrees of arc along the rim 66 so that rotating the hand wheel 26 from a position where one of the spinning knobs is opposite the indicator point 59 until the next circumferentially spaced spinning knob 65 opposite the indicator point 59 corresponds to a predetermined number of graduations on one of the scales on the iiange 58. The bevel gear 52 is twice the pitch diameter of the bevel pinion 53. Therefore, for every single revolution of the shaft 4? by means of the indexed handwheel, the lead screw 25 will make two revolutions. For convenience the threads of the screw 25 are oneeighth inch pitch, or eight threads per inch. This means that for every single revolution of the control wheel, the screw 25 will move the indexing head 24, and consequently the straightedge 22 also, two eighths, or one quarter of 6 an inch, up or down the work sheet 21a, .as the case may be.

The operation of the machine of the invention is facilitated by providing a spaced indicia on the rim 66 of the indexing wheel 26. It is convenient in this instance to divide the indexing wheel into six circumferentially spaced, individual faces 8S, FIG. 3, leaving the escalloped portions 89 `between the consecutive faces. The graduated circular flange 58 is integral with the rim 66. Three alternate faces SS are designated `by the indicia characters A/l, C/Z, B/ 3, alongside the respective spinner knobs 65, as indicated in FIG. 3. For convenience, the character A/ 1 appears at the top of the rim 66, FIG. 2. The rim forms virtually a controlling factor in the operation of the machine, since it functions along with index pointer slide 6d to clearly indicate how indexing handwheel 26 should be rotated through the angular spaces required by the respective graduated scales on the circular ange 58.

It happens that in many instances of actual use, both in drawing the lines for business and other forms and afterwards in filling in such forms, that the desired movement of the indexing wheel requires it to pass through an angular space made up of a plurality of component angular spaces. For example, when drawing the horizontal lines, the spacing between the lines must be coordinated with the standard spacing of typewriter lines. In all typewriters, whether using elite or pica type, the spacing between the lines is 2/12 of an inch. In the present illustration, since the middle unit of the scale 3l, FIG. 2, is graduated to correspond to 12 spaces to the inch, it is clear that the indexing wheel must be moved through 2/3 of a revolution in order to move the straightedge 22 through a distance of one typewriter line space or s of an inch. Thus, when preparing a ruled form for typewritten work, an operator must turn the indexing handwheel 26 through 240 degrees. Since the indexing wheel is preferably rotated counterclockwise, it means than an operator need only move the indexing rim 66 from A to B (passing C), or B to C (passing A), or C to A (passing B), as the case may be, to accomplish an indexing rim travel of 240 degrees. Thus all an operator needs to observe is the alphabetical order ABC, ABC, ABC, and so on, indenitely.

While the indexing handwheel, as shown, has its spinner knobs 65 spaced apart from each other 120y degrees of arc, or 1/3 of a circumference, it follows that if the same convenience of moving through aggregative plural spaces for either the decimal scale of hundredths of an inch, or the fractional scale of sixty-fourths of an inch is desired, that separate indexing wheels would have to be supplied in connection with the gear box 36, instead of the present one.

In support of what has just been described, it is to be noted that the depressions 45, 46 and 47, FIG. 4, represent numerical divisions of the respective circles in the denominations of /go, 1/72 and 14n, respectively.

In FiGS. 3, 4 and 7, it is to be noted that the slot @il in the indexing wheel 26 accommodates the stem 44-1 of the shift lever lock Y1M. By proper setting of the shift lever lock 44 along the slot 9G, the shift lever may be brought and locked into registry with a selected one of the circularly disposed sets of depressions 45, 46, and 47. By then appropriately sliding slide 60 in one direction or the other, indicator point 59 may be brought into registry with the corresponding circumferential scale on circular ange 58 of wheel 26.

In order to attain maximum precision, a complete systern of spring loading is provided. By means of this system any motion imparted to the indexing head 24 is transmitted precisely to the straightedge 22. Such system includes the aforedescribed spring loading at 37 between the indexing head 24 and the guide 28a, FIG. 6; the spring loading at 78 between the journal 50 and the gear 52, FIG. the spring loading at 54a between the stem 54 and the journal bearing S5, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5; the spring loading at 86 between the block 67 and the screw 25, FIGS. l0 and 13; the spring loading at 39 between the respective half-nuts 38a and 3819 and the block 6'7, FlGS. l0 and i4; and the spring loading at 83 between the block 67 and the track rail 36, FIGS. 9 and l1.

For any given use of the apparatus, initial settings of the mechanisms involved are made in accordance with the particular requirements of the work to be accomplished. Thereafter, operation of the apparatus becomes a routine procedure of successively rotating the indexed handwheel 26 to an extent commensurate with the desired spacing of successive lines to be ruled, the actual ruling being carried out manually by the operator utilizing an appropriate stylus along the straightedge 22, much as appears from the showing in FlG. 16.

As has been referred to hereinbefore, the operator -first takes an approximate setting by pushing forwardly on the knob 72, and then moving the dividing head 23 and the straightedge 22 upwardly or downwardly to a position where the straightedge registers roughly with the place on the work where it is desired that a line be ruled. Pushing the knob 72 forwardly serves to disengage the dividing head from the actuating screw 25, and to enable the operator to manually slide the dividing head and straightedge forwardly or backwardly as may be required for this initial rough adjustment of the ruling mechanism of the apparatus relative to the work.

Pulling the knob '72 backwardly re-engages the dividing head with the actuating screw.

It should be observed that the initial placement of the straightedge can, in the great majority of instances, be only approximate, for the reason that engagement of the half-nuts 38a and 38!) with the threaded shaft or screw 25 must of necessity accord with the threads to be intermeshed. This ordinarily involves intervals of one-eighth of an inch between possible locations of initial placement for the straightedge.

Following this initial rough adjustment of apparatus to work, the operator precisely adjusts the straightedge 22 to the work by manually rotating the knob or thumbscrew to the left or to the right as the case may require. This serves to re-locate, as a unitary working assembly, the entire combination of straightedge, dividing head, and indexing head, and of carriage 2S and track rail Sil upon which they are mounted, without disturbing the initial adjustment between such dividing head and the other components of the unitary working assembly A principal advantage or" being able to make this precise adjustment of straightedge to work, without disturbing the initial setting between the several components of the unitary working assembly, resides in the fact that the indexed handwheel 26 of the indexing head can be easily set at the initial, or what is in effect the zero, position at the commencement of any given operation of the apparatus. This would be very ditlicult if not impossible to accomplish were it not for the construction enabling the several components of the aforesaid working assembly to be moved as a unit relative to the work-supporting table during the stage of precise adjustment.

For example, the indexed handwheel 26 may be set with its A face registering with the indicator linger 59 for the purpose of enabling the operator to rule successive lines spaced in accordance with standard typewriter line spacing, it being observed that the index pointer slide 60, FIG. 2, is set for 1/72 of an inch printers measure on the middle scale of indexed ange 58. Thereafter, precise adjustment of straightedge to work, without disturbing this setting is made by manipulation of the knob or thumb-screw 35.

With the apparatus all set in this manner, the operator need only rotate the handwheel 26 away from himself,

iJe., in a counterclockwise direction, until the B face registers with indicator linger 59, to re-set the straightedge 22 in properly spaced relationship with its initial position for the ruling of the next line. He then rotates the handwheel to C, then again to A, and on in the same direction and in the same manner for the continued proper spacing and ruling of successive lines.

With the handwheel 26 arranged in the described manner, and equipped, as illustrated, with individual knobs 65 corresponding in position to the respective index characters A/l, C/Z, B/3, see especially FIG. 3, it will be observed that the operator is able t0 execute identical spinning movements for any multiplicity of lines to be ruled under conditions of uniform spacing. That is to say, the uppermost knob 65, as shown in the intermediate position of FIG. 2, is grasped and the wheel 26 rotated until such knob is in the forwardmost position of FIG. 2, which brings about the desired movement from face A to tace l The next grasping and movement of the handwheel is identical, except it is the knob 65 corresponding to the now uppermost face B which is grasped and moved to the forwardmost position, `bringing the face C to uppermost indicating position. Subsequent operations ot the handwheel 26 are similarly identical in character. As mentioned hereinbefore, each such rotation of the wheel carries it through 240 angular degrees or through 2/3 of a complete rotation.

The numerical characters accompanying the above alphabetical characters on the three mutually opposed faces ot' handwheel 26 are used in those instances where the proper spacing is achieved by successive one-third turns of the handwheel 26.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to a particular preferred construction, it should be understood that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the essential concepts hereof or the scope of the claims which here follow.

What is claimed is:

l. Parallel ruling apparatus, comprising a layout table having a guideway formed along one side thereof; an elongate carriage mounted in and extending along said guideway for relative movement longitudinally therebetween; an indexing head carried by one end of said carriage; elongate guide means extending longitudinally of said carriage; a dividing head mounted on Said guide means for back and forth movement therealong; a straightedge extending over the work surface of said layout table for securement to said dividing head; an actuating screw operatively connected to said indexing head and extending along said carriage in parallel with said guide means; clutch means secured to said dividing head and normally maintained in threaded engagement with said actuating screw, so rotation of the latter will propel said dividing head along said guide means; means for disengaging said clutch means to release said dividing head from said actuating screw; means associated with said indexing head for rotating said actuating screw in either direction; and means for effecting relative movement longitudinally between said ca'rriage and the parts carried thereby and said layout table to bring said straightedge into precise registry with work on the said work surface of the layout table.

2. The apparatus of claim l, wherein the guideway is formed as a recess extending the length of one side of the layout table below the work surface thereof, and the carriage comprises a structural element disposed within said recess for longitudinal movement therealong.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the guide means and the actuating screw are disposed substantially within said recess, and the dividing head extends downwardly into said recess.

4, The apparatus of claim l, wherein the guide means is a track rail having its upper surface lying adjacent the plane of the work surface of the layout table; wherein differently graduated scales ot' a transverse series of scales are carried by and extend longitudinally of said upper' surface ot' the track rail; and wherein the rotating means for the actuating screw carries a series of visually exposed scales corresponding in character to the said series of scales carried by the track rail.

5. The apparatus of `claim 4, wherein an adjustable pointer is associated with the indexing head, for indicating a particular one of the series of scales carried by the means for rotating the actuating screw.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the actuating screw comprises a handwheel having a circumferential yrim member around which a plurality of scales extend; and wherein a detent mechanism is associated with said handwheel, said mechanism having a plurality of detent tracks corresponding to the respective scales and means for locking said handwheel in operative relationship with a selected one of said detent tracks.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the handwheel is provided with a plurality of spinner knobs disposed in mutually spaced relationship about the circumference of said handwheel, the spacing thereof corresponding to a predetermined number of graduations on at least one of said scales.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the actuating screw comprises a handwheel, said handwheel having a circumferential rim member around which extend elongate, graduated scales of `a series f such scales that extends transversely across said rim member; and wherein a detent mechanism is associated with said handwheel, said detent mechanism selectively engageable with a plurality of detent tracks in said indexing head corresponding to the respective scales, and means for locking said handwheel detent mechanism in operative relationship with a selected one of said detent tracks.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an adjustable pointer is associated with the indexing head, for indicating the scale corresponding to the selected detent track.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the handwheel is provided with a plurality of spinner knobs disposed in mutually' spaced relationship about the circumference of said handwheel, the spacing thereof corresponding to a predetermined number of graduations on at least one of said scales.

l 1. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the guide means is a track rail having its upper surface lying adjacent the plane of the work surface of the layout table; and elongate scales corresponding to the scales carried by the handwheel, said elongate scales being carried by and extending longitudinally of the said upper surface of the track rail.

12. Parallel ruling apparatus, comprising a layout tab-le having a guideway formed along one side thereof; an elongate carriage mounted in and extending along said guideway for movement longitudinally thereof; an indexing head carried by one end of said carriage; elongate guide means extending longitudinally of said carriage from said indexing head; a dividing head mounted on said guide means for back and forth movement therealong; a straight-edge extending over the Awork surface of said layout table, from securement to said dividing head; an actuating screw journaled in said indexing head and extending along said carriage in parallel with said guide means; clutch means secured to said dividing head and normally maintained in threaded engagement with said actuating screw, so rotation of the 4latter will propel said dividing head `along said guide means; means for disengaging said clutch means from said actuating screw; means associated with said indexing head for rotating said actuating screw in either direction; and means for moving said carriage and the parts carried thereby longitudinally thereof relative to said layout table, to bring said straightedge into precise registry with Iwork on the 10 said work surface of the layout table, said means for moving the carriage comprising a block secured to the layout table adjacent the guideway thereof, and a screw threaded in said block and extending through and journaled in the indexing head, said screw having a manipulating head bearing against the indexing head.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, `wherein is additionally provided resilient means between rthe block and the indexing head, urging them apart.

14. A layout and register apparatus including a dividing head, a straight edge carried `by said dividing head, a guide rail on which the dividing head is slidahly mounted ifor longitudinal movement, a propulsion screw extending longitudinally along a guide rail, a Atwo-part nut normally threadably engaging said screw but being transversely separable therefrom, resilient means urging the two parts of the nuit transversely toward the screw engaging relationship, a plate bearing against said two parts of the nut, means resiliently urging said plate and hence said two parts of the nut longitudinallyl of said screw, and means for separating said two parts of the nut against the urge of said lirst mentioned resilient means.

l5. In parallel ruling apparatus having an elongate screw, a straight edge, mechanism normally securing the straight edge in lthreaded engagement with said screw for propulsion thereby, and indexing mechanism for rotating the screw in predetermined increments, the securing mechanism comprising opposing half nuts, resilient means normally urging said half nuts into close threaded engagement with said screw, and means for retracting said half nuts against the urge of said resilient means; the improvement 'wherein the means for retracting said half nuts comprises, a reciprocative slide plate having a pair of oppositely disposed generally inclined slots, and cooperating pins associated with said half nuts, said slots being arranged to operatively engage said pins while said nuts are in the screw-engaging position under the urge of said resilient means and adapted rto disengage the said nuts from said screw during the retractive movement of said slide plate, and said slots having securing means associated therewith for restraining the movement of said pins with respect to said slots when said nuts are in a retracted position.

16. An apparatus as dened in claim 15, wherein the said securing means comprises having a slot portion extension disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal movement of the reciprocative plate.

17. The apparatus of claim `8, wherein the means for locking said handwheel in operative engagement lwith a selected one of said detent tracks comprises, an index shifting lever arm having said detent mechanism xedly mounted therein, and said lever arm being pivotally mounted on said handwheel at a point spaced from the axis thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the actuating screw comprises a handwheel, said handwheel having a circumferential rim member around which extend elongated graduated scales with pointer means associated with said indexing head for indicating a selected one of said scales, and said handwheel having a plurality of spinner knobs disposed in mutually spaced relationship about the circumference of said handwheel, the circumferential spacing of said knobs being such that when said handwheel is rotated from a position where one of said spinning knobs is opposite said pointer means until the next circumferentially spaced knob is opposite the said pointer means the movement of the handwheel corresponds to a predetermined knob of graduations on at least one of the said scales.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 11 UNITED STATES PATENTS Schneider Dec. 13, 1898 Szafka July 28, 1903 Van Huel July 21, 1908 Page Nov. 30, 1909 Fortune Aug. 3, 191.5 Weaver Feb. l1, 1919 Boiwn May 8, 1923 Neblet Sept. 1l, 1928 Armitage Aug. 27, 1929 Crowley June 30, 1936 Walsh Nov. 23, 1937 Green Mar. 5, 1940 12 Cunningham June 3, 1941 Livingston Sept. 2, 1941 Parsons Jan. ll, 1944 Edelmann Oct. 19, 1948 Daniels July 3, 1951 Larson Feb. 3, 1953 Cone Apr. 20, 1954 Hansen May 4, 1954 Hillmel- Feb. 22, 1955 Lewis July 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 3, 1911 Italy Oct. 2l, 1946 

